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Potential Use of Untreated Wastewater for Assessing COVID-19 Trends in Southern Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Osvalda De Giglio

    (Regional Reference Laboratory of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Francesco Triggiano

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Francesca Apollonio

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Giusy Diella

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Fasano

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Pasquale Stefanizzi

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Marco Lopuzzo

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Silvia Brigida

    (National Research Council (CNR), Water Research Institute (IRSA), Via F. De Blasio, 5, 70132 Bari, Italy)

  • Carla Calia

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Chrysovalentinos Pousis

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Angelo Marzella

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Giuseppina La Rosa

    (Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Luca Lucentini

    (Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Suffredini

    (Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Giovanna Barbuti

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Giuseppina Caggiano

    (Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Maria Teresa Montagna

    (Regional Reference Laboratory of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

Abstract

As a complement to clinical disease surveillance, the monitoring of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater can be used as an early warning system for impending epidemics. This study investigated the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater with respect to the trend of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence in Southern Italy. A total of 210 wastewater samples were collected between May and November 2020 from 15 Apulian wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The samples were concentrated in accordance with the standard of World Health Organization (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) procedure for Poliovirus sewage surveillance, and molecular analysis was undertaken with real-time reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-(q) PCR). Viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) was found in 12.4% (26/210) of the samples. The virus concentration in the positive samples ranged from 8.8 × 10 2 to 6.5 × 10 4 genome copies/L. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve modeling showed that at least 11 cases/100,000 inhabitants would occur after a wastewater sample was found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 (sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 80.9%). To our knowledge, this is the first study in Italy that has applied wastewater-based epidemiology to predict COVID-19 prevalence. Further studies regarding methods that include all variables (meteorological phenomena, characteristics of the WWTP, etc.) affecting this type of wastewater surveillance data would be useful to improve data interpretation.

Suggested Citation

  • Osvalda De Giglio & Francesco Triggiano & Francesca Apollonio & Giusy Diella & Fabrizio Fasano & Pasquale Stefanizzi & Marco Lopuzzo & Silvia Brigida & Carla Calia & Chrysovalentinos Pousis & Angelo M, 2021. "Potential Use of Untreated Wastewater for Assessing COVID-19 Trends in Southern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10278-:d:646770
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Francesca Gallè & Elita Anna Sabella & Stefano Ferracuti & Osvalda De Giglio & Giuseppina Caggiano & Carmela Protano & Federica Valeriani & Eduardo Alfonso Parisi & Giuliana Valerio & Giorgio Liguori , 2020. "Sedentary Behaviors and Physical Activity of Italian Undergraduate Students during Lockdown at the Time of CoViD−19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-11, August.
    2. Francesca Gallè & Elita Anna Sabella & Giovanna Da Molin & Osvalda De Giglio & Giuseppina Caggiano & Valeria Di Onofrio & Stefano Ferracuti & Maria Teresa Montagna & Giorgio Liguori & Giovanni Battist, 2020. "Understanding Knowledge and Behaviors Related to CoViD–19 Epidemic in Italian Undergraduate Students: The EPICO Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-11, May.
    3. Fabrizio Fasano & Anna Sabrina Addante & Barbara Valenzano & Giovanni Scannicchio, 2021. "Variables Influencing per Capita Production, Separate Collection, and Costs of Municipal Solid Waste in the Apulia Region (Italy): An Experience of Deep Learning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Maria Teresa Montagna & Osvalda De Giglio & Carla Calia & Chrysovalentinos Pousis & Francesca Apollonio & Carmen Campanale & Giusy Diella & Marco Lopuzzo & Angelo Marzella & Francesco Triggiano & Vinc, 2021. "First Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 on the Surfaces of Tourist-Recreational Facilities in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-6, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marco Verani & Ileana Federigi & Sara Muzio & Giulia Lauretani & Piergiuseppe Calà & Fabrizio Mancuso & Roberto Salvadori & Claudia Valentini & Giuseppina La Rosa & Elisabetta Suffredini & Annalaura C, 2022. "Calibration of Methods for SARS-CoV-2 Environmental Surveillance: A Case Study from Northwest Tuscany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-11, December.

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